Why Are Poster Dunks Disappearing From Today’s NBA?

There was a time when poster dunks ruled the NBA — violent, high-flying moments that made legends of players like Vince Carter, Dominique Wilkins, and Shawn Kemp. But as Carter recently explained, those days are fading fast.

“You used to run through the paint and get messed up,” Carter said. “You were looking around, going through the lane, to see who would hit you.” Back then, dunks came with consequences. Towering shot-blockers like Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning patrolled the paint, and every slam attempt felt like a battle.

Today? Not so much. The game has changed — and so have its players. The modern NBA big man often defends the three-point line instead of the rim. Stars like Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid spend as much time on the perimeter as they do in the post, leaving fewer rim protectors in position to challenge dunks.

Rule changes have also played a role. With hard fouls now drawing flagrant calls and injury concerns rising, defenders are more cautious, and attackers more calculated. Instead of powering through contact, players now opt for euro steps, floaters, and finesse finishes.

Add in the league’s faster pace, shift toward team play, and reduced trash talk, and the era of the jaw-dropping, in-your-face dunk is quietly fading. Players like Anthony Edwards and Ja Morant still soar — but Carter’s brutal, soul-snatching posters? Those may be a thing of the past.

Visit Dan Lalonde Films For All Technology And Entertainment News

Source: Basketball Network

Photo Credit: NBA